businessweek mindanao september 1,2012

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Briefl yBriefl yMarine enginesBUREAU of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) National Director Asis G. Perez is set to visit and turn-over projects in Iligan City and Misamis Oriental. Perez will lead tomorrow the turn-over and distribution of 50 units marine engine to typhoon Sendong affected fisherfolk in Bayug Island, Iligan city. During his visit here, the BFAR chief is likewise scheduled to inspect the re-habilitated Kawit, Kauswagan hatchery; lying-in-projects in Tubajon Laguindingan; coral transplantation project in Duka Bay, Medina; includ-ing project sites supported by Cagayan de Oro District Representative Rufus Ro-driguez. BFAR will also turn-over 16 units of marine engines to typhoon affected fisherfolk in Cagayan de Oro City.

RDC-10 okays projectsNORTHERN Mindanao’s Reg iona l Deve lopment Council approved during its meeting in Camiguin last week various init ia-tives to improve disaster preparedness, rehabilitate a key irrigation system and develop a seaport, among others, the body said in a statement last weekend. The RDC approved specific items during the meeting held capital town of Mambajao. The council also asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to provide funds for the paving of Bonifacio-Don Victoriano Road in Misamis Occidental.

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ASEAN SINGLE CURRENCY. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bali, Indonesia has proposed a single ASEAN Eco-nomic Zone. There are dangers however, that this push toward greater economic integration could be derailed.

MINDANAO is poised to benefit from

the 2015 ASEAN (As-sociation of South-east Asian Nations) economic integra-tion, the island being a focus area in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-regional cooperation. Secretary Luwalhati An-tonino, chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), voiced such optimism during an ASEAN 2015 Regional In-tegration forum recently. The forum was capped by the launching of the Min-danao Trade Policy Center (MTPC), a body formed to act as a link for business chambers in Mindanao. The center is a brainchild of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Indus-try – Mindanao, headed by Ricardo Juliano, who stressed it will also act as the information center for the ASEAN Integration programs and initiatives. “We have aspired for many years for bigger mar-kets in trade, tourism, and investments. Therefore, we have to be prepared when ASEAN member countries integrate their economies into one ASEAN community

SM sees stiff challenge, eyes Vismin expansion

chief finance officer Jose Sio. In a press statement, Sio said they are planning to expand their food retail business by 30 stores a year for the next five years. SMIC food retail business operates under three brands: Save More, SM Supermarket, and SM Hypermarket. He said they intend to expand their retail business because it is low margin. “What is important in retail is volume. The more volume you sell, the lower

By IRENE DOMINGO, Reporter

PERHAPS challenged by stiff com-petition, mall giant SM Investments Corporation is eyeing to expand its operation in the Visayas and Mind-anao regions, by looking at acquiring supermarket chains in the provinces. This strategy would boost their presence in the South where they operate supermarkets in malls in cities such as Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, General Santos and Cagayan de Oro, said SMIC

Sources: NGCP, TMI wont appeal rate reduction

the Ancillary Services Power Agreement say they will comply with the order and are now meeting to discuss how it can be implemented soonest. Sources from Aboitiz

By MELANIE RIVERAStaff Member

THE principal companies involved in the recent deci-sion of the Energy Regula-tory Commission effectively reducing the rates billed for

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WB specialist asks DA to improve value chain of agri productsDAVAO City -- World Bank’s (WB) lead rural develop-ment specialist Carolina Geron underscored the need for the Department of Ag-riculture (DA) to look into the value chain of different commodities to boost farm-ers’ productivity. Speaking during recent wrap-up meeting of the WB review mission for the Mindanao Rural Develop-ment Program (MRDP), Geron stressed the need to integrate value chain approach in agriculture sec-

tor for growth to be more inclusive and broad-based. A value chain is a con-nected string of companies, groups and other players working together to satisfy market demands for a par-ticular product or group of products. In a agricultural value chain marketing system, farmers are linked to con-sumers’ needs, working closely with suppliers and processors to produce the specific goods consumers demand. In a traditional

marketing system, farm-ers produce commodities that are “pushed” into the marketplace and or on in-dependent transactions. The farmers are largely iso-lated from the consumer, and from the demands and preferences of consumers. “Oftentimes our farmers function more as consum-ers rather producers. They produce goods for their own consumption for failure of meeting production sur-plus to supply marketing demands,” Geron said.

To integrate supply chain approach in rural areas, Geron said DA must fo-cus on building capacities in rural areas and ensure the provision of s strategic network of rural logistics infrastructure within the priority value chains. She said infrastructures such as farm-to-market roads and post harvest fa-cilities should be within the identified priority value chain in a particular prov-ince or region. “We have to discern at the lower part of the ladder wherein farmers should be engaged in livelihood na hindi pwedeng ibenta, kailangan maiiangat natin para maka-benta (that can-

not be sold, we have to make it marketable),” she added. Geron said the proposed up scaling of MRDP into the expanded Philippine Rural Development Program aims on enhancement of value chain to strengthen and develop viable rural enterprise. Lealyn Ramos, MRDP program director, said the program is now pushing for big-ticket projects where farmers’ association can access bigger funding, from P5 million to P10 million, not only to expand produc-tion but also integrate value chain approach in their production. Ramos said these projects include sago flour produc-

tion in Veruela, Agusan del Sur, where a group of Manobo tribe will be ex-panding sago flour produc-tion to supply the increasing demand of their product. “In Mati City, a group of rural women are engaged in coco twine production considering that there is a huge demand in inter-national market for coco fiber,” she said. “These are just some of our initial projects. We enjoin the support of other agencies and the private sec-tors to help us in strengthen-ing commodity value chains as these requires appropriate technologies and linkages with other agricultural key players,” she said.

Aggie dept expands garlic production area in R-12

By SHAHANA JOY E. DUERME farmers in the region to partner with DA in pro-moting FSSP. To help the farmers in this endeavor, DA-HVCDP will provide the needed materials to improve garlic production. “This project targets to have a total of five-hectare garlic plantation in different provinces in Soccsksargen region to sustain the high demand for garlic,” Torres stated. Soccsksargen Region includes the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato. To start the expansion of garlic planting areas, a

KORONADAL City -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) 12 bolsters the expan-sion of garlic production areas in Region 12 as part of advancing the department’s Food Staples Self-sufficiency Program (FSSP). This is one of the strat-egies of the department in giving importance not only to the production of staples but also to other agricultural commodities like garlic. Jocelyn Torres, engi-neer, of the High Value Crops Development Pro-gram (HVCDP) said that they are encouraging garlic

seed system will be put up for the production of garlic planting materials. This project will be im-plemented starting October and will last for five years. Garlic is one of the most important spices which is widely used. In the Philippines, garlic production for the last five years reached 12,500 met-ric tons (MT) in 2005 and 9,500 MT in 2010 which is not enough to meet the needed 61,000 MT of garlic every year. By this initiative if wid-ening garlic plantations, it is expected that garlic production in the country will increase.

Makilala intensifies revenue collectionBy AIDA C. AGAD, Contributor enue collection campaign,

especially in the business licenses, stall rentals, slaugh-terhouses, and terminal fees. They also adopted the scheme of going down to the barangay, convincing even micro-enterprises to avail of the package P500 to register their business operations. At the close of the first week of August, their rev-

KORONADAL City -- The local government of Makila-la in North Cotabato is confident to surpass revenue collection target of P17 mil-lion for fiscal year 2012, a local official reported. Makilala municipal trea-surer Ma. Luisa Layos in her report, revealed that they have intensified their rev-

enue collection reached P6.76 million compared to P6 million for the same period last year. Based on the P7 million target for 2012, the balance has been narrowed down to P240,000 for the next five months, the report said. On the other hand, their public market collection also reached 58 percent of the targeted P10 million. Intensified campaigns enable LGU Makilala to collect P5.8 million from stall rentals and fees from slaughterhouse, terminal and toilet. Local collections were also increased by fees and penalties from violations of local ordinances against littering, smoking and mo-torcycle helmets. Different collection units of the local treasury office have contributed in the in-tensified revenue collection campaign, the report said.

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Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

10th Judicial RegionBRANCH 24

Cagayan de Oro City2012-387

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION SPEC. PROC. NO. 2012-101FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE BIRTH RECORDS, LCR NO. 90-2739 OF GENESIS BADILLA LILAM CHANGING THE ENTRY FOR THE GENDER OF THE CHILD FROM MALE TO FEMALE, AND THE SPELLING FOR THE FIRST NAME OF THE MOTHER FROM TERESTA TO T ERE SIT A, AND DELETING THE ENTRY FOR THE DATE AND PLACE OF MARRIAGE OF PARENTS,

GENESIS BADILLA LILAM, Petitioner, versus -THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, TERESITA BADILLA AGUEL(mother) AND FELIX LADON ULAM (father)X--------------------------------------------------------------/

ORDER Notice is HEREBY GIVEN that before this Court is a verified Petition for Correction of Entry in the Birth Record of Petitioner in the Civil Registry of Cagayan de Oro City, alleging, among others, that she was born on February 26, 1990; that said birth was duly registered in the Civil registry of Cagayan de Oro City; that there were errors in the entries of said registration, as reflected in her Certificate of Live Birth, to wit: a) Gender of the Child - MALE b) Mother of Child - “TERESTA” RAMBUYON BADILLA; and c) Date &Place of Marriage - July 2, 1988, Polomolok, South Cotabato,

when the correct entries should have been: a) Gender of the Child - FEMALE b) Mother of Child - TERESITA RAMBUYON BADILLA; and c) Date & Place of Marriage - none or left blank

Thus, this petition for correction of the said entry. This petition will be called for initial hearing on September 24, 2012, at 8:30 o’ clock in the morning, during which the jurisdictional requirements of publication, posting and notice to all persons who have interests or claims which would be affected by this petition, will be proved. Any interested person may, fifteen (15) days from notice hereof, file his/her opposition to the petition. SO ORDERED. ISSUED this 30th day of July, 2012, in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.

(Sgd.) HENRY B. DAMASING Acting Presiding JudgeBWM: Aug. 27, Sept. 3 & 10, 2012

Energy firm, ABS-CBN give educ TV packages to schoolsTAGOLOAN, Misamis Oriental -- Energy-firm STEAG State Power Inc. (SPI) and ABS-CBN Foundation have provided elementary schools with educational television (ETV) packages, with Gracia and Maribojoc Elementary Schools in Tagoloan being the latest recipients.

Grades 2 and 3 pupils exposed to the ETV science episodes absorbed twice as much of the concepts than those who were given regular, non-augmented instruction. Interestingly, under-standing the concepts in Filipino appeared to facilitate the transfer of learning to English. In Villanueva and Tago-loan districts where the program has been run-ning since 2005, students’ performance, as measured

SPI manager Ghaye Alegrio and Tagoloan Mayor Paulino Emano led the simple turn-over rites for these packages in the area. Designed to enhance classroom teaching and learning process, the ETV program has so far gained

marked improvements in the public education per-formance. Studies show a dif-ferential performance of as much as 23 percent between those exposed to the ETV science series and those who were not part of the program.

by the National Achieve-ment Test results, also improved. In Villanueva for in-stance, NAT rating in-creased from 55.51 percent to 77.19 percent in 2011. The program also saw teaching methodolog y improvement, such that teachers can deliver in 20 minutes the concepts that they usually teach in two days. So far, nearly 60 percent of the 22 public schools in Tagoloan and Villanueva

have been provided with the ETV package consist-ing of a 32-inch, flat screen TV set, a DVD player, and

more than 500 educa-tional TV episodes on Science, Math, English and Civics.

Mitsubishi cites ‘modest increase’ in salesSALES of Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Corp. hit 3,275 units in July, 15.7% more than June’s 2,830, the carmaker said in a statement posted on its Web site on Friday. While comparable year-ago data were not immedi-ately available, the company said “year-to-date figures show a modest increase on all segments.” Mitsubishi had reported earlier that sales edged up by a nearly-flat 0.5% 16,956 units in the first half from the same six months in 2011. The company cited the

compact car and light com-mercial vehicle segments as driving July sales. “With the launch of the Lancer EX 1.6 MIVEC in July, sales in the compact car segment dramatically increased by 397.4%. Sales for the compact car category reached 189 units which is so far the highest monthly sales since January this year,” the company said in its statement. Sales of light commercial vehicles increased 10.2% to 3,021 units. Sales of the Pajero and

Strada also increased in July. Pajero sales rose 56.5% while sales of the Strada improved by 26.8%. Actual volumes were not immediately avail-able. Sales of the locally pro-duced Adventure and L300 models also went up, with the Adventure totaling 576 units, representing 23.3% growth. Data for the L300 were not given. Sport utility vehicle Mon-tero Sport saw 7,863 units sold. Truck sales rose 35%, though actual volume was

not immediately available. Mitsubishi was able to corner 22.6% of the market, the statement read. “Mitsubishi expects a comeback in the passenger car segment with the intro-duction of the Lancer EX 1.6 MIVEC and the soon-to-be launched all-new Mirage. With the introduction of these new models, higher consumer spending, ag-gressive promotions and bank financing, Mitsubishi is positive that it will sustain its remarkable growth,” the carmaker said.

SEAIR appoints Tan as president, CEO

SOUTH East Asian Air-lines (SEAIR), an associate airline of Singapore’s Tiger Airways, appointed Patrick Tan as president and chief executive officer. Tan, who was previously SEAIR vice president for commercial affairs and chief operating officer, will now lead the budget airline as it seeks to expand its operations. He was also in charge of SEAIR sales and marketing activities for 7 years, build-ing the company’s relations with travel agents around the world. Tan earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Phys-ics from Ateneo de Manila University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Man-

agement, Major in Mar-keting, from De La Salle University. Tiger Airways recently acquired a 40% stake in SEAIR, its second joint venture in Southeast Asia.

DOTC bids out modernization of Tacloban, Dipolog airports

THE Department of Trans-portation and Communica-tions is seeking bids for the P319 million moderniza-tion of the Tacloban and Dipolog airports. In an invitation to bid published Friday, the DOTC said the development of the Tacloban and Dipo-log airports is part of the government’s promise to modernize air transport facilities in the country. About P251.6 million would be set aside for the Tacloban Airport, particu-larly for the construction of a new apron and taxi-way, completion of north-east shore protection with shoulder grade correction, construction of drainage system with box culvert, and the construction of temporary transition. Another P66.9 million

services flights to and from Manila and Cebu, is the eighth busiest in the coun-try, with its passenger traf-fic hitting the one-million mark last year. In the first six months of this year, the airport accommodated 608,769 passengers. Tacloban City boasts of historic attractions such as the San Juanico Bridge, Calvary Hill, the Price Mansion, and the Maria Kanon Madonna of Peace Shrine. Tacloban is also the gateway to tourist destinations including the Calbiga Cave complex, the beaches of Guiuan, and the new surfing hot spot in Calicoan Island. Dipolog Airport, which services flights to and from Manila and Cebu, is one of the major air terminals in Mindanao, accommodating

would be used to spruce up the Dipolog Airport, which includes the expansion of the apron, widening of taxiway, construction of ramp, construction of river protection with shoulder and the construction of box culvert and drainage system.

The DOTC will issue bid documents from August 31 to September 19, with its Bids and Awards Com-mittee to hold a pre-bid conference on September 11. The opening of bids for both airport projects is set on September 24. Tacloban Airport, which

165,163 passengers in 2011 and is poised to reach the 200,000 mark this year. The Dipolog Airport plays a key role not only in the development of business and tourism in the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, but also in the province

of Zamboanga del Norte. The region is home to popular tourist destinations such as the Dakak Beach, Dapitan Bay, Aliguay and Silinog Islands, white water adventure in Sungkilaw Falls, and the Cogon jungle adventure.

Apple targets 17 Samsung products in patent suitNEW YORK - Seeking to capitalize on a major legal victory over its rival Sam-sung Electronics Ltd , Apple Inc has asked a federal court in a separate case to fi nd that four additional Sam-sung products, including the Galaxy S III, infringe Apple’s patents. In February, Apple al-leged that at least 17 Sam-sung products infringe its patents. In a court filing made in San Jose federal court on Friday, Apple added four more products to the

list of allegedly infringing products that have been released beginning in Au-gust 2011 and continuing through this month. Apple won a major vic-tory over Samsung last Fri-day in a separate case when a jury found that the South Korean company had copied critical features of the hugely popular iPhone and iPad and awarded the U.S. company $1.05 billion in damages. Samsung representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Vitarich in debt-restructuring modeA LISTED feeds producer is issuing new shares to its creditors, converting its debt into equity. The new shares – two bil-lion in all – would constitute an increase in its capital stock to P3.5 billion from P1 bil-lion, Vitarich Corporation disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange Wednesday. The shares are in exchange for the “debts of the corpo-ration or in cash subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the board of directors and the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the rehabilita-tion court,” the company said. Instead of allocating earn-

ings to debt and interest pay-ments, the company is re-structuring its debts and using revenues to grow its business. Vitarich will hold a stock-holders’ meeting on Oct. 15 to discuss the new shares, Vitarich said. “… [T]he shares shall be listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange subject to the ap-proval of the stockholders,” the company added. Vitarich was a leading poultry and feeds producer – with facilities such as feed mills, hatcheries and dressing plants – until its debts bloated after the Asian economic crisis in late 1990s and the avian flu outbreak in 2003.

Bees and Buzzards

JHAN TIAFAUHURST

THINK A MINUTETHINK A MINUTE

PED T. QUIAMJOT

TRAVERSING THETRAVERSING THETOURISM HI-WAYTOURISM HI-WAY

A call for natural disaster management training

THINK a minute… Bees and buzzards are very different in their eat-ing habits. Buzzards fly and circle above looking for animals that are either hurt or dead. Then when they see one, they swoop down to tear and feast on it until it’s gone. But honeybees are the exact opposite. Honey-bees only look for the good sweet nectar, as they fly from flower to flower. Buzzards only produce fear, pain, and death in their feeding. But honeybees produce honey-combs full of honey, which gives health and enjoyment to others. You see, buzzards and bees always find what they’re looking for. Just like a wife

can usually find what she’s looking for in her husband. She’ll see what she chooses to see: the good or the bad. So if we’ll focus on our husband’s faults and mis-takes, we’ll find them. And the more fault we find in our husband, the less we’ll respect him. So then when our husband feels that we don’t respect him, maybe even see him as a loser and failure, guess who’s the last person he will want to be with? His wife! Since he feels he can never please her or be good enough for her. But rather, if we try to look for the good qualities in our husband, and focus on those, we can grow to

respect even admire him. Then when our husband feels this respect from us, because we stop cutting him down and criticizing him, our marriage and relationship will be much happier. As a wise person said: “To your husband’s qualities and good points, be very kind; and to his faults and mistakes—a little blind.” Fortunately, there is a big difference between us and buzzards and bees. Animals cannot choose their instincts and behavior. But God made us human beings the highest of all His creation, so we can choose what we think, say, and do. So if you’ve not been the kind, loving wife

you know you should be, won’t you ask Jesus Christ to forgive you? Right now ask Him to take charge of your heart and nature, so you can start changing to become the wife your husband needs. Just Think a Minute …

DISASTER preparedness has not been given a priority in our daily lives. It comes as calamities and accident happen that we do not know how to manage resulting to too many losses of lives or property damage. Few in the government and the private sector are trained and knowledgeable on this discipline. Except perhaps the military, the Red Cross and the national civil de-fense corps who have been in the forefront of many disasters and calamities that have besieged this country. The Philippines received an average of 20 tropical typhoons yearly. We are located in the Pacific Ring of Fire which is susceptible to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Many provincial cities have antiquated developmental

plans that do not conform to the warnings of geographi-cal hazards. Local govern-ments that do not enforce the national building code of the Philippines and so many other risk mitigating factors as prescription for disaster. When accident or major calamity happens, we start a participative discussion sometimes as critics and abrogate that we are experts as we see the authorities take action. Many of us become “Uzis” adding risk to become a casualty in the process. We never learned that there is a so called crowd control when it comes to rescue operations. Disaster preparedness has learning process to follow like contingency planning for rescue, relief and recovery. There are

coordination mechanism and exercise in planning to minimize risk and casual-ties. Last Friday evening of August 31 at about 9:17 pm when an earthquake of 7.5 magnitudes hit the Samar trench, we experience in Cagayan de Oro tremendous swinging of buildings and ground rattling. We only learned from CNN, where the epicenter was located otherwise there could have been more panic as people do not know what to do? Any Kibitzer could have shouted “Tsunami” and more conflagrations could have occurred resulting to chaos and confusions. Government has the responsibility to protect its population from natural disasters. It has to educate the people on how to take

evasive actions. It is not there only to act for rescue or perform relief operations with photo ops; it has to be in the forefront for preven-tion and even evacuation. We have seen how the people of the affected states of Louisiana, Missouri and Illinois were prepared in the eye of hurricane “Isaac” their

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Religious indifferenceWE cannot deny that there’s vast religious indifference and even hostility against religion today. That may be intriguing to say, since on the other hand, thanks be to God, we can also notice a surge of religious fervor in some sectors. This contrast actually has been around since time immemorial, an indication that human history is always an interplay between good and evil, between God’s providence and man’s free-dom. But what is interest-ing to note is the degree of seriousness into which both indifference and fervor have developed. A complex structure of rationalizations now sup-ports religious indifference and hostility to religion. It seems that the threads of naturalism, skepticism, agnosticism, atheism, rela-tivism, etc., have become more sophisticated, snuffing whatever religious ember that may still remain in a person or in society. Some intellectuals and occasional theologians join free thinkers in lending their dissenting voices and exper-tise to this trend, adding to the string of scandals the

Church has been suffering these past few years. Try to look at some of our so-called leading Catholic universities, and you will likely find nests of dissenters who invoke an unhinged type of academic freedom (aka, academic license) to retail their heresies and questionable if not patently erroneous ideas. They are quite well-funded and sup-ported by powerful interna-tional ideological groups. Even centers of religious formation and seminaries are infected with this kind of virus. Imagine seminar-ians and priests now taught about the beauty and prac-ticality of contraception, etc. It’s really about time that a thorough clean-up be made in these places, but, of course, with due process. In these places, reason and empirical findings are considered the ultimate measure of things, and are made to dispute the claims of faith, steadily removing its attractiveness to the people. With this approach, piety is slowly eroded until it becomes practically dead. In these places, if things could not be fully under-stood and explained, if

they could not be directly verified, if they are not socially, economically or politically practical, then they should be rejected. They are deemed senseless. It’s as simple, or rather, as simplistic, as that. Such atti-tude sorely misses the point that truths of faith, being spiritual and supernatural, require more than human reason to be believed. It’s a tyranny to force everyone to work only within the framework of reason and understanding alone beyond which things simply cannot be true. It sorely misses the point that we precisely need the gift of faith, because we are

FR. ROY CIMAGALA

HINTS AND HINTS AND TRACESTRACES

There are instances when, unless, a casualty is given media mileage, that, the disease or i l lness isn’t given much attention and more often than not, is only for medical consump-tion. Thus, it comes as no surprise at all, that, nec-rotizing fasciitis, became something of a known disease, after it was fea-tured recently. I first came across the illness during my days of training in one of the best centres in the country, when I saw a submitted tissue from the operating room for a diagnosis. Necrotizing fasciitis, is actually a diagnosis based on microscopic examina-tion of the tissue . There is however, a Laboratory Risk Indicator of Necrotiz-ing Fasciitis ( LRINEC). The basis of which are serologic tests like C Reac-tive Protein, Total White Blood Cell Count, Hemo-globin, Sodium, Glucose and Creatinine. There are assigned values for the results of these tests, and if the score is greater than 6, Necrotizing Fasciitis maybe highly considered. Thus, alerting the patient

Risk Indicator for Flesh Eating Bacteriaand the attending physi-cian to its possibility. This is actually a rare disease specially among the healthy population. It is more commonly called as f lesh eating disease or flesh eating bacteria syndrome, which is a mis-nomer, as the bacteria does not eat the flesh but rather the microorgan-isms that infect the skin and subcutaneous tissue releases a toxin that cause destruction that extends to the deeper layers of the muscle. This happens when there is a cut, a puncture wound , a scrape or even an insect bite. It affects those whose im-mune system is compro-mised, like, persons with Diabetes, alcoholics and drug users, malignancies and chronic systemic dis-eases. Fever, pain that is so intense which doesn’t seem to relate to the skin appearance. There are instances when the pa-tient may also experi-ence vomiting and have loose bowel movements. Having knowledge of the possibility of this disease can be life saving. For, the mainstay management

would be the administra-tion of massive doses of antibiotics through the intravenous route. And should there be a wound, debridement and even surgical intervention like amputation may spell be-tween life and death. Ke e pi n g on e’s s e l f healthy, ensuring that the immune system is capable of doing what it is sup-posed to do, which is to protect one from invaders that cause diseases, prac-tice of good hygiene and should there be a scrape or break in the skin, to do proper wound care, are simple yet effective steps that will keep necrotizing fasciitis as a textbook disease only....



CAGAYAN de Oro––From leading pineapple grower Del Monte Philippines, with an 86-year farming tradition, more than 4,000 regular workers actively campaign for a ‘greener’ community.

In 2011 alone, employees at Del Monte’s plantation in Bukidnon and cannery in Cagayan de Oro and com-munity partners planted 80,000 tree seedlings in fields and slopes across Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. Del Monte Foundation, the company’s social outreach arm, grows seedlings of various trees on a one-hectare nursery in Libona, Bukidnon and distributes them for free to the community. In Camp Phillips (Bukidnon), another nurs-ery with a capacity to disperse 5,000 seedlings per week, supports the Foundation’s green requirements.

As Del Monte volunteers share in the government’s national greening program, Del Monte farmers work closely with other local farmers to adopt agronomic measures that can mitigate adverse consequences of crop agriculture on soil and water conservation. Responsible farming focuses on sustainable crop cultivation and efficient drainage systems, with innovative as well as tried-and-tested practices like routinely cultivating and positioning crop beds across – not along – field slopes, installing short and numerous canals and drains across pineapple fields to minimize buildup of surface water during heavy rain, and positioning grass strips at strate-gic points to slow down waterflow.

Del Monte farms some 20,000 hectares of land in Bukidnon. This accounts for five percent of Bukidnon’s 375,000 hectares of agricultural land, or about two per-cent of Bukidnon’s total land area of 1.04 million hect-ares.

According to 2011 agricultural census, most of the Bukidnon plateau is planted to corn (51%), rice (22%),

sugar cane (15%), banana (6%) and other crops (2%). When Del Monte started its farming operations in Bukid-non in 1926, no forests were cleared to give way to its pineapple fields. Additional land acquired later were al-ready cultivated to other crops such as corn, rice, cassava, abaca, and sugarcane.

Del Monte’s green effort goes beyond the farm. Its cannery was honored with the 2011 Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency and Energy Manager’s Award by the Philippine Department of Energy for exemplary performance in the efficient use of energy resources. The company employs best practices to monitor and continuously improve its over-all Carbon Footprint (CF) which remains negative, an indication that its operations are consistently eco-friendly. In the last four years since the company moni-tored CF, it registered an increasing trend in total carbon capture (sequestration-less-emission) values of 373, 423, and 489 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Eco-friendly operation sustains this key engine of growth of northern Mindanao. Del Monte’s business di-rectly and indirectly supports the livelihood of at least 40 thousand residents – from fruit growers to truckers and harvesters, from fertilizer producers to packaging mate-rial manufacturers, from housing maintenance to equip-ment spare part distributors. As a responsible corporate citizen, Del Monte continues to contribute to the devel-opment and upliftment of the quality of life in communi-ties where it operates. Del Monte Foundation reaches out to over 60 rural barangays in the region, serving over 46,000 beneficiaries within the last five years (2007-2012) through scholarships and education, capacity-building, home care and community health, youth development and other programs.

The future looks greener – with Del Monte and its community partners.

Del Monte farmers share eco-friendly practices with local farmers to highlight the value of sustainable crop cultivation and efficient drainage systems in conserving the environment.

Del Monte volunteers plant seedlings in barangay Mambatangan, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon to step up their campaign for a greener community. Del Monte Foundation produces 5,000 seedlings per week and distributes these for free to the community.

Residents of Sitio Kiantig, Barangay San Jose, Quezon, Bukidnon receive free medical services and medicines from Del Monte volun-teers during a Medical Mission. In 2011, some 8,000 beneficiaries in the region were jointly served in community health programs by Del Monte Foundation, Del Monte employees, Del Monte Ladies Civic Assoc., Capitol University Medical Center and medical volunteers.

Del Monte volunteers: for a greener community

PPP Projects in Davao City won’t benefit the public — BayanBy INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO bulk grains handling facility

or logistic support system, warehouses, solid waste management, information technology networks and database infrastructure, education and health fa-cilities, sewerage, drainage, dredging, among others.” Bayan-SMR has been campaigning against the ordinance, saying that PPP schemes in Davao City will be inimical to the public interest.Two councilors voted against the ordinance: Councilors Berino Mambo-o and Leah Librado-Yap. “PPP, a centerpiece economic program of the Aquino regime, is a Trojan horse of privatization, which is the same economic policy along with liberalization and deregulation pursued by the much-hated Arroyo regime that contributed to the gov-ernment’s rising debt woes and the people’s economic hardships,” said Bayan-SMR spokeswoman Sheena Du-azo. “Private investors in PPP projects do not bring much investment as often hyped by the government. These projects rely on for-eign loans, frequently with government guarantees or assuring creditors that, in case of loan setbacks, both local and national govern-ments and their agencies will assume responsibility for the repayment of loans which the private investors incurred.”

MANILA — The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) in Southern Min-danao Region is not sending off fireworks anytime soon to welcome the advent of public-private partnership schemes in Davao City. On August 24, the City Council of Davao approved an ordinance allowing PPP projects and programs be-tween the city and the pri-vate sector. In a statement, Councilor Jimmy Dureza who chairs the committee on trade and industry and one of the main proponents of the ordinance said the PPP ordinance will benefit the city and the public. Councilors like Dureza lobbied for the enactment of a PPP ordinance on the prodding of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Inc. (DCCCII) and of Malacañang itself. The ordinance stipulates that the city is open to PPP projects, which “include but may not be limited to the following: power plants, highways, ports, airports, canals, dams, hydropower projects, water supply, ir-rigation, telecommunica-tions, railroads and rail-ways, transport systems, land reclamation projects, industrial estates or town-ships, housing, government buildings, tourism projects, markets, slaughterhouses,

Duazo cited the high operation and maintenance costs of Metro Rail Transit (MRT), a 25-year Build-Lease-Transfer (BLT) con-tract between the govern-ment and Japanese-Filipino firm Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC), which the government agreed to guarantee payments for the $426-million debt incurred by MRTC in building the infrastructure and a 15 per-cent return on investment (ROI) per year. “This is one of the sweet deals that resulted to fare rate hikes, more public debts and more corruption. It costs taxpayers more be-cause private firms that win contracts have to borrow money at a higher interest rate and it deprives them of the needed basic services as well,” Duazo pointed out. Duazo also warned that the enactment of PPP ordinance will legitimize privatization through PPP and will likely make the city government wallow more in debts. “The Davao City gov-ernment has a remaining debt of P2,333,171,937.74 ($55.5 million) based on Mayor Sara Duterte’s es-timates, while it paid a total of P461,252,589.87 ($10.98 million) in 2011 and P145,806, 740.00 ($3.47 million) in the first four months of 2012 as certi-fied by Land Bank of the

Philippines (LBP). This explains the local govern-ment’s insufficient budget allocations for a housing program and health services due to loan problems and national government’s aban-donment of its responsibility to deliver basic services to its constituency,” she said. Duazo noted that the Aquino regime has proposed to amend the implement-ing rules and regulations of Republic Act 7718 or the Amended Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law to require government guar-antees on PPP projects, including unsolicited pro-posals such as surface water development projects and schemes for privatization of water and public hospitals through corporatization. “Bayan, its allied orga-nizations and other anti-privatization groups are now conducting informa-tion, education and com-munication campaigns to raise public awareness on the threats of privatization and to motivate the people to take actions,” she said.BDO, PCSO to enter PPP

fray As local government units like Davao prepare their own PPP schemes, business entities and even government agencies are also doing the same. In a recent report in the Manila Times, it was an-nounced that the Banco de

Oro (BDO) Unibank owned by business tycoon Henry Sy will raise $2 billion to invest in PPP projects. The bank’s investment arm BDO Capi-tal and Investment Corp. in the meantime is said to be in the process of closing a $1 billion- agreement on financing in the power sec-tor. BDO announced that it will get into the foreign debt market to raise $2 billion Euro Medium Term Notes as part of its moves to improve the bank’s ability to access longer-term funding for relending to projects like infrastructure under the government’s PPP program. A Euro Medium Term Note is a debt instrument sold outside the US and Canada. In the meantime, there are rumors that the Philip-pine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), since 2011, has been considering pro-posals and concepts for PPP projects that are supposedly related to the provision of medical assistance to the poor. In a column in Business-mirror, it was said that while the PCSO does not require the construction of infra-structure, the agency can participate in PPP schemes by entering into partner-ships with nongovernment organizations and other private-sector groups for service delivery, supply of high-quality essential medi-

cines, provision of medical treatments such as dialysis, and other requirements. “The PCSO will also study how resources can be converged through entering into PPPs in the areas of health-worker and social-worker training and the holding of medical missions and health-information seminars in poor commu-nities all over the country, with the goal of delivering positive health outcomes,” the report said.

More Aquino PPP proj-ects in the pipeline

The Aquino administra-tion’s Public Private Partner-ship Center (PPPC) has al-ready released a PPP Manual for local government units “a detailed how-to guide for undertaking well structured PPP projects,” the agency said. Workshops on the PPP Manual are continu-ously being conducted by the PPP Center to LGUs. In 2011, the Aquino government’s biggest project roll out was the Daang-Hari-SLEX Connector Project under the Department of Public Works and Highways, and it was was awarded to Ayala Corp. In 2012, the govern-ment’s implementing agen-cies identified and selected 21 projects for PPP imple-mentation, 8 of which are scheduled to be finished by the end of the year. The

PROJECTS/PAGE 10

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Rufus, Maxi push for measure on Family Code

Rufus Maximo

THE House of Represen-tatives has approved on second reading a bill seek-ing to amend the country’s Family Code which seeks to put Filipino and alien spouses on equal footing and to prevent uninten-tional discrimination. House Bill 4368, prin-cipally authored by Cagay-an de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., was passed by the 284-man chamber last August 29. The measure seeks to amend Executive Order

209 or the Family Code of the Philippines by har-monizing the law with the recent rulings of the

Supreme Court on di-vorce obtained by the alien spouse in another country.

Rodriguezes said HB 4368 allows a Filipino to contract a subsequent marriage in cases where divorce is validly obtained abroad the alien spouse and recognizes divorce obtained by the al ien spouse in another coun-try without the need to seek judicial recognition or enforcement of the foreign judicial degree of absolute divorce. They lamented that the Supreme Court’s October 2, 2001 ruling which made it a requirement that a foreign divorce degree be

recognized before it can be enforced by the Philip-pine court “puts to naught the concept of equity for the Filipino spouse.” “As such, the Filipino spouse is once again put at a disadvantage considering that the foreign spouse is already free to remarry. This proposed amendment to the Family Code will cure such anomaly,” the brother lawmakers said. The SC’s Garcia-Recio vs Recio ruling ruled that a divorce obtained abroad by an alien may be recog-nized in our jurisdiction,

provided such degree is valid according to the national law of the for-eigner. “However, the divorce degree and the governing personal law of the alien spouse who obtained the divorce must be proven. Our courts do not take judicial notice of foreign l aw s an d ju d g m e nt s ; hence, like any other facts, both the divorce decree and the national law of the alien must be alleged and proven according to our law on evidence,” the 2001 ruling said.

Delisted groups known this monthDISQUALIFIED PARTY-LIST groups will be re-leased before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October, with incum-bent congressmen whose groups will be included still allowed to serve their term until the end of the third regular session of the 15th Congress next year. “We will release the list towards the end of September,” said Director James Arthur B. Jimenez, spokesman of the Com-mission on Elect ions (Comelec) in a chance interview last week. Fi l ing of intention to run in the May 2013 midterm elections has been scheduled for Oct. 1-5. The third regular session adjourns on June 7, 2013. The purging of party-list groups, under Come-lec Resolution 9513, aims to “ensure that the party-list system is allowed to live up to its spirit” and that the party-list groups “really represent the marginalized and underrepresented,” said Mr. Jimenez. The issue was raised by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Ru-fus B. Rodriguez (2nd dis-trict), brother of Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr., during the budget hearing last week, particularly on the fate of party-list lawmakers. There are 42

party-list lawmakers out of 283 congressmen. “[The resolution cov-ers] even those who are voted by the people in 2010 as if they are regis-tering anew,” Mr. Rodri-guez said. “What is the rationale behind this?” Comelec Chairman Sixto S. Brillantes, Jr. said that the poll body is only “exercising the option to cancel the registration of existing party-lists.” “There are 172 new applicants in addition to the 127 existing,” he said. “If we will not review existing party-lists and continue to accept new applications, there will be no end anymore,” added the chairman, without addressing the fate of incumbent lawmakers whose groups may be delisted. Mr. Bri l lantes said groups will be gril led on the Statement of As-sets, Liabilities and Net Worth and spending of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, an au-thority under the General Appropriations Act that allows a congressman to identify projects by as much as P70 million. “There are represen-tatives of peasants but they’re mult imil l ion-aires,” Mr. Brillantes said on the issue of proper representation of mar-ginalized groups. “Is that even possible?”

Mr. Jimenez, mean-while, said party- l is t groups need not worry of being delisted if “your representation is valid and legitimate….” He said in a separate text message that affected party-list congressmen will be allowed to com-plete their term. “No effect [to elected party-list solons]. Sitting congressmen’s terms [will be allowed to] expire.” Purged groups “that don’t make it can appeal,” he added. The security guard party-list group, Ang Gal-ing Pinoy, and its repre-sentative, Juan Miguel “Mikey” M. Arroyo, did not attend last week’s Comelec hearing to jus-tify its registration, but it may seek another hearing. “Nothing stops par-ty-lists to request the reschedule of hearing,” said Mr. Jimenez. The Comelec, mean-while, reiterated that its proposed 8.49-bil l ion budget for next year as approved by the Budget department is not enough to cover the conduct of next year’s elections. “We are not happy with the 8.4 billion. We will be spending more than that,” said Mr. Brillantes. The amount submit-ted to Congress has been reduced by about 5 bil-lion from the original proposal.

Comelec ready for 2013 automated elections

COMMISSION on Elec-tions (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes yesterday assured congressmen that the poll body is now ready for the combined automated congressional and local elections in May 2013. “We can tell you that we have enough funds for next year’s elections,” Brillantes told a House appropriations subcommittee chaired by Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. He was responding to concerns raised by Andaya and appropriations commit-tee chairman Cavite Rep.

Joseph Emilio Abaya about Comelec’s funding problem Brillantes himself raised a month ago in another House hearing. The Comelec chief had complained that the De-partment of Budget and Management (DBM) had cut the commission’s 2013 budget from P13 billion to P8 billion. He said Comelec needed the additional P5 billion, and that if the funds were not restored, the poll body would be forced to conduct a manual election. Brillantes threatened to

resign if the Comelec would have no choice but to go back to manual voting. Abaya informed Bril-lantes and other Comelec officials that Budget Sec-retary Florencio Abad told him two weeks ago that they have already solved the commission’s funding problem. Brillantes confirmed this, saying Abad has assured him that the P5 billion would be returned to augment Come-lec’s P8.4-billion budget for next year. “The P5 billion would

COMELEC/PAGE 10

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2012 MVP BOSSING SEARCH IS ON. Executives from PLDT SME Nation, Sun Cellular and Go Negosyo, along with representatives from the 2011 MVP Bossing Awards, officially kicked off the nationwide search for the 2012 MVP Bossing at the Milky Way Café in Makati City on August 23, 2012. Flashing the ‘thumbs up’ sign at the campaign launch are (from left to right) PLDT SME Nation Community Consultancy Head Gabby Cui, Go Negosyo Executive Director Mon Lopez, PLDT SME Nation VP and Head Kat Luna-Abelarde, VP for Sun Business Marketing Michele Curran, Autohub Group President Willie Tee Ten, Fern Inc. President and CEO Tommanny Tan, and PLDT SME Nation AVP and Marketing Head Amil Azurin.

PLDT launches third MVP Bossing AwardsTHEY came, they worked hard, and conquered. To a ‘Bossing’, all were unanimous that their individual success did not come easy, and was attained through a dint of hard work, gener-ous dollops of research and sweat, as well as an unshakeable belief in oneself to try and try, until business victory was at hand.

world,” said Tommanny Tan, President and CEO of FERN Inc. Judging from the huge number of entries last year, PLDT SME Na-tion expects the number of nominees this year to surpass the previous submissions. Similar to last year’s competition, nomina-tions for various indus-try segments represent-ing ever y SME sector such as Agri-business, Manufacturing, Travel & Leisure, Retail Trade & Finance and Service Industries, will be ac-cepted for the 2012 MVP Bossing Awards. Qualified for nomina-tion are entrepreneurs and home-grown Filipino business leaders who have been in operation for at least five years. Nomina-tions are now on until 17 October 2012. “Besides steering their enterprises to success with their excellent busi-ness management skills, we want to honor Pinoy Bossings who for many years embraced the for-titude and strength of mind that we Filipinos are admired for,” said PLDT SME Nation VP and Head Kat Luna-Abelarde. Winners of this year’s award will be featured in a year-long multimedia campaign that will give wide market exposure for their products or services. Detai ls on how to nominate candidates , and the corresponding criteria to qualify for the MVP Bossing Awards are available at the PLDT SME Nation website at w w w.pldtsme-nat ion.com.ph or call the PLDT SME Nation hotline at 101-888.

The search for the best ‘Bossings’ who success-fully manage the business operations of small and medium enterprises in key industry segments nationwide, kicked off today amidst a plethora of business success sto-ries as PLDT SME Na-tion officially announced the 2012 MVP Bossing Awards in a grand launch attended by well-known entrepreneurs, and past winners of the unique contest. Now on its third year, the MVP Bossing Awards paid tribute to local busi-ness leaders who exhibit Filipino entrepreneurial and leadership values such as creativity, per-severance and determi-nation in successfully managing their business operations. Fittingly, this year’s competition trumpeted the theme “Mula Noon, H a n g g a n g N g a y o n : Championing Filipino Values in Business” to recognize entrepreneurs from the past to present who displayed tremen-dous tenacity to survive and adapt their business operations to formidable challenges using the lat-est technology methods and solutions. “The 2012 MVP Boss-ing Awards is a company tradition in recognizing Pinoy Bossings’ contribu-tion to nation-building, Entrepreneurs who em-body core Filipino values in relentlessly pursuing

their aspirations,” said PLDT Executive Vice President and Head of Enterprise, International and Carrier Business Eric Alberto. At the launch event were 2011 Bossing award winners who shared sto-ries of their respective entrepreneurial sojourns, peppered liberally with inspirat ional “secrets of their success”, to the gathered media. They included Willy Tee Ten of Autohub Group, Tom-manny Tan of FERN Inc. and Go Negosyo Execu-tive Director Mon Lopez. “It’s been a year since we were given the recog-nition for the hard work we put in our business to meet the growing de-mand for our products and keep pace with the developments both in the domestic and inter-national markets,” said Willy Tee Ten, president of Autohub Group. “We are grateful to PLDT SME Nation in honoring our contribution to the lo-cal industry; the award helped us to enhance our market reputation, expand our market reach and thus create more lo-cal jobs.” “This early, we want to congratulate the would-be winners of this year’s award and encourage them to continuously sharpen their business acumen and show every-one that the Pinoy talent is unique in every way and one of the best in the

Davao Cinematheque gives tribute to Dolphy

By RUDOLF IAN G. ALAMA will be shown during the retrospective are Omeng Satanasia (1977), the Lino Brocka masterpiece,Ang Tatay Kong Nanay (1978), My Juan and Only (1982) and the iconic Home Along Da Riles I and II (1993, 1997). Dubbed the King of Comedy, Rodolfo Vera Quizon made a span of over 200 movies from 1946 well into 2010 when he made his last movie. He was also an acclaimed vaudeville dancer and starred in long-running television sitcoms among these were John and Mar-sha and Home along the Riles. Lacuesta said that apart from Dolphy movies, sev-eral old Filipino classics will also be shown on the cinematheque. These movies are shown free

aimed at making the pub-lic aware of the country’s rich cinematic heritage. The cinematheque is a 120-seat cinema facility located at the old Depart-ment of Education office in Palma Gil street in the city, adjacent to the People’s Park. The facil-ity which was opened last June 29 was built by the Film Development Council of the Philip-pines under a usufruct agreement signed with the City Government of Davao. Aside from a movie house for Filipino classics and World Cinema the facility can also be used as a venue for seminars and workshops related to films, it can also host film screenings for local filmmakers and is planned to host a movie archive.

DAVAO City -- Davao Cinematheque is paying tribute to the departed Dolphy, King of Comedy with a retrospective of some of his movies. Lolita Lacuesta, head of the Davao Cinematheque said the screenings of Dolphy films is open to the public for free. The retrospective started last August 30 and will run until September 2. The Dolphy retrospec-tive was conceived to honor Rodolfo “Dolphy” Vera Quizon’s numerous and unprecedented con-tributions to Philippine cinema. Similar Dolphy retrospectives have been held in Cinematheque Baguio and Cinematheque Iloilo. Among the flicks which

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Plan for ASEAN Connectiv-ity, establishing meaningful physical, institutional, and people-to-people linkages between member countries. This connectivity will allow for increased trade, tourism, and investments between our country and the rest of the BIMP-EAGA countries, and to the big-ger ASEAN community, Antonino said. She urged the public and private sectors to focus on Mindanao’s key competitive and comparative advantages in assessing the island’s readiness and in firming up goals for this regional economic integration. “More than ever, now is the time for greater conver-gence of public and private sector initiatives, and the pursuit for common policy agenda that promotes in-creased and freer trade, with high premium on ensuring sustainable development,” said Antonino, the coun-try’s minister to the BIMP-EAGA. The ASEAN Community, which is expected to mate-rialize in 2015, will be based on three pillars namely “a security community, an economic community and a socio-cultural community,” a PCCI-Mindanao briefer said. The 2015 ASEAN In-tegration seeks to make the bloc a key player in international economy and politics like the European Union. pna

Economy...from page 1

the lower your cost and less-er the expense,” he added. “The 30 new stores every year are merely organic growth... The direction then is we just open our department store, our food business in the mall where we are operating,” said Sio. He noted though that, “three years ago, we said, ok if it is within the vicin-ity of the mall. Now we are improving that, where it’s not necessarily within the vicinity (of the mall) but anywhere,” said Sio. Sio added that they are on the lookout for buying opportunities in the Visayas and Mindanao as a way to accelerate the company’s expansion program. “If we see a good opportunity, we would acquire,” he said. SMIC may close some acquisition deals before the end of the year. “In choosing that, we have to see what location. Second is the number of stores that he has. Five in a small city or small or medium sized area is fine,” Sio said. He explained that, “if the location is right, we can improve not just the store but the travelling area. If there is a potential then create that into a regional mall with more tenants.”

Expansion...from page 1

communities and moderate your greed at Pabayaan nyo ng Mananatili sa Gobiyerno ung mga nabanggit ko na mga Power Facilities. We know if you distance your-selves from those Valuable Assets of the Government, PSALM may eventually lose its Appetite of Selling it, especially that the People of Mindanao are against such sale.”

Rate...from page 1Power Corporation, mother company of Therma Marine Inc. (TMI) who however requested to remain anony-mous pending the release of the firm’s official state-ment said refunds are not new since the firm has been refunding its customers for savings realized in CFO/fuel efficiency of operations. Another source con-firmed that TMI will not contest the decision and is even now in talks with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on how to work out the implementing mechanisms for the ERC decision. Although he said the TMI will drive the process with NGCP, that is no guarantee of what the coops would do with the refund. “Technically, when they get the refunds, the coops should pass it to their cus-tomers,” he added. For its part, the NGCP said, “For matters that will have an impact on rates whether to be paid by or refunded to consumers, we leave it to the ERC to decide. We’ll abide by the regulator’s decisions.” “This is certainly a posi-tive development as far as consumers and customers of utility companies/elec-tric coops, said Ma. Teresa Alegrio, Oro Chamber presi-dent. “I was informed Ce-palco is waiting for the IRR for computing the refund. Kudos to KKI for pursuing this advocacy,” she said. Konsumanteng Kagay-anon, Inc. (KKI) was one of the oppositors on record on the ERC case, along with in-tervenors Cepalco, Daneco, Amreco, Nasecore, Laneco and Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. However, pending of-ficial statements from the principals involved, many stakeholders in the Mind-anao power industry still doubt the refund process might take some time. “I recommend widest media coverage of this lat-est ruling,” said a coopera-tive official from Western Mindanao. “Hopefully, they would take their medicine like good boys and not file motions for reconsideration (MRs) with the courts ad naseaum to delay the refund until it becomes irrelevant to the passage of time.” “Sana ngah, di na mag MR pa ang TMI, at dapat lang sa $33M ibase ang Capital Recovery Fee(CRF) and not on the Appraised Value of $86M, subra na-man iyon,” Engr. Nestor B. Degoma, chairman of the PALAG-Mindanao (Power ALternative AGenda in Min-danao) and president of LAPOCOF(Lanao Power Consumers Federation) said. Degoma said PALAG and LAPOCOF both welcome the firm’s other Energy Ven-tures, especially Renewable Energies, “but please listen to the people on the affected

and become more globally competitive,” Ms. Antonino said. She stressed that the opening of a single ASEAN market and production base characterized by freer flow of goods, services, invest-ment, capital, and skilled labor presents tremendous opportunities for the coun-try, especially for Mindanao. Citing the International Monetary Fund World Eco-nomic Outlook Data and Estimates for 2011, George Manzano, economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific, pointed out that the 10-member ASEAN bloc has a market of almost 610 million people, with an aggregate gross domestic-product of US$ 2.339 billion. “With ASEAN looking closely at regional sub-groupings, now is the best time for the BIMP-EAGA to put its best foot forward,” Antonino explained. Mindanao, being a focus area to this sub-regional cooperation, is in the best position to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the ASEAN integration, she said. Already, BIMP-EAGA initiatives have been inte-grated into ASEAN’s Master

Mayors was all over national televisions discussing the typhoon path and prepara-tions. They have summoned the National Guards to carry a force evacuation of the anticipated hardest hit areas and when the disaster came; their rescue equipment was just magnificent. But of course that is in the United States of Amer-ica.

Quiamjot...from page 6

dealings. But I don’t think that would be enough. Yes, there is need for friendly contacts and giving good example. But still those would not be enough. Our Lord, when asked by his disciples why they could not cure a certain very difficult case, simply said that it can be handled only through prayers and fasting. I feel these are also what are needed to take care of this difficult challenge. Religious indifference and hostility to religion have to be tackled by per-sistent effort to identify oneself with Christ through prayer and sacrifice. In other words, we have to be ready to be crucified, which is the best form of prayer and sacrifice. There’s no other way. Unless we are willing to imitate Christ all the way to his crucifixion, we cannot expect to melt away the thick and sticky layer of religious indifference and hostility to religion among the people. This crucifixion need not be in a public place. It can rather be in that personal effort to give everything to Christ—our mind, our heart, our feelings, our plans, our time, our honor, etc. Every-thing! As Christ assured us, it’s when we lose that we gain, it’s when we die that we live, the last will be first…

Cimagal...from page 6

Comelec...from page 8

come from this year’s Comelec appropriations, savings and other sources. So yes, we have enough funds for the 2013 elections, including about P3 billion for the October voting for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officers, if it will not be postponed,” he said. Brillantes said the poll body could now begin the bidding process for various services needed for the 2013 polls, such as the printing of ballots and other election materials. If the October vote would be deferred, Bril-lantes said the Comelec will have savings of at least P3 billion by the end of next year. He noted that there are numerous bills pending in the House proposing to move the barangay and SK balloting to a later date. Several congressmen led by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez wants the October vote postponed to 2015, saying the nation may not be able to afford two elections in six months. Rodriguez said the bil-lions that could be saved from postponing the Oc-tober voting could be used for roads, school buildings, health centers, and similar basic infrastructure and social services.

of the Philippine Orthopedic Hospital, and the NAIAX elevated tollway. Other projects in the Aquino government’s pipe-line are the the CALA Ex-pressway, Mactan Cebu Passenger Terminal Build-ing and the Automatic Fare collection system. (http://bulatlat.com)

Projects...from page 7

fi rst one was was the Depart-ment of Education’s PPPs for School buildings Infra-structure Project or PSIP.

SM, Jollibee outline bold China expansion plansLISTED SM Investments Corp. and Jollibee Foods Corp. remain upbeat about their China units’ growth prospects, with officials yesterday outlining aggressive expansion plans. “We expect we will continue to expand, so we have decided to accelerate the expansion of our malls,” said Jose T. Sio, SM Investments executive vice-president and chief finance officer (CFO), during the CFO Forum sponsored by ING Bank N.V. (Philippines), the Foreign Cor-respondents Association of the Philippines and Financial Execu-tives Institute of the Philippines. A plan to build a mall in China each year has been changed to two malls per year after 2014, he said. Mr. Sio pointed out SM’s four China malls’ contribution to SM Prime Holdings, Inc.’s bottom line had risen to almost 15% in the first half from 5% three years ago. “And this will continue to grow,” he added. SM Prime is SM Investments’ mall unit. Mr. Sio said SM will consider a listing in China or in Singapore either through initial public of-fering or real estate investment trust upon the completion of 10 malls in China, to raise more funds for expansion there. At the same forum, Ysmael V. Baysa, Jollibee CFO, said: “Our China business is growing by around 30% in revenue per year, and we will be able to maintain this. It presently ac-counts for 11% of our worldwide sales.” Jollibee operates three brands -- Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan and San Pin Wang -- and

a 368-store network in China. It has earmarked P5.8 billion for expansion this year, a portion of which will be used to fund the construction of more 100 stores in China. SM Prime has programmed a P21-billion capital expenditure for 2012 -- P14 billion for the Philippines and P7 billion for China -- to be sourced from a mix of debt and internally generated funds. SM Prime aims to end the year with a mall portfolio of 46 Philippine malls and five China malls, which will have a combined estimated gross floor area of 6.3 million square meters. The two officials said the Philippines and China’s spat over the Scarborough Shoal has not dampened their enthusiasm for growing their China businesses. “Whatever is happening in Scarborough Shoal, we don’t feel it affecting our business in China,” Mr. Sio said. “I believe that whatever is going on [in Scarborough Shoal] will be resolved in a very positive and constructive way…” said Mr. Baysa. Jollibee registered a 21.2% increase in its first-semester net income to P1.59 billion, boosted by improved customer volume and cost improvements. SM Investments saw a 13.07% rise in its first-half net income to P10.90 billion, with total revenues climbing by 14% to P105.20 billion as all core businesses met their respective revenue targets. SM Investments shares fell by 0.42% to P706 versus P709 the day before while those of SM Prime were traded unchanged yesterday at P13.80 each.

are men of belief, more than of reason. Faith al-ways respects reason, and always works through it, but is beyond it. It cannot be fully grasped by reason, much less by our senses. It has a longer spread, a wider scope, a deeper reach, a firmer grip on reality. This is something to be understood well, because many are now so self-ab-sorbed and self-righteous that anything that does not pass their empirically-based intellectual criteria just can-not be true. With their vaunted ir-reverence, they mock and ridicule any reference to faith, to the spiritual and supernatural, often not re-alizing that they are actu-ally acting out the roles of drunks and the drugged, or kids in tantrums, who can be eloquent in their locked-in state of self-righteousness. How do we deal with this kind of situation? It’s good, of course, to enter into dialogue and personal

Th e project aims to build 9,000 classrooms in Regions I, III and IV-B, helping cut down the backlog on school buildings for public schools. In May, the National Economic Development Agency (NEDA) was set to approve three projects, the Vaccine Self-Suffi ciency Project, the Modernization



Petron hikes LPG by P6 per kiloPETRON Corporation has jacked up the price of its liquifi ed petroleum gas (LPG) Saturday morning due to in-creasing international market prices. Petron Corp., the car-rier of liquefi ed petroleum gas (LPG) brand “Gasul”, increased its LPG price by a heft y P6 per kilo at around 6 a.m. Saturday, September 1. Th e price adjustment does not refl ect the value-added tax on petroleum products. “This is to reflect the contract prices of LPG for the month of September,” according to an advisory issued by Petron. Th e hike eff ectively trans-lates to at least a P66 mark-up for every regular household cylinder of Gasul, which weighs 11 kilos. On top of the cooking gas price increase, Petron said it also raised autoLPG prices, this time by a VAT-inclusive P3.76 per liter. Other major oil firms have yet to announce an adjustment as of press time. It can be recalled that major LPG players hiked their cooking gas products by a whopping P7 per kilo to begin the month of August.

Last Tuesday, some mem-bers of the LPG Market-ers Association Inc. jacked up prices by P4.50 per kilo,

and implied that a second price hike of P1.50 per kilo would be implemented within the week. Th e association is

composed of independent (not allied with a major oil company such as Petron) LPG distributors. Liquigaz likewise in-creased on Tuesday its LPG prices by a similar P6 per kilo or by P66 per 11-kg cylinder. Various reports earlier said that the Department of Energy (DoE) had in fact anticipated a new price in-crease for LPG products, noting the continued tension in the oil-rich Middle East. Before the latest hike an-nouncement, LPG cylinders from major retail stations retailed between P680 and P700. LPG prices typically adjust once a month. Incidentally, prices of other petroleum products have also been on an up-ward movement the past few weeks, constituting a “double-whammy” for consumers. Since July 17, price of premium gasoline have gone up by P8.35 per liter, regular gasoline by P 8.15 per liter, kerosene by P7.25 per liter and diesel by P7.40 per liter. What’s worse is that pe-troleum demand has yet to reach its peak, something that will occur during the Christmas season.(PNA)

US firms may shift business to ASEAN

A GROWING number of US companies plan to shift some operations from China to Southeast Asia in the next two years as confi dence in countries such as the Philip-pines improves, a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Singapore showed. AmCham Singapore said on Th ursday its survey of 356 senior executives working for US companies in the region showed that 21% planned to reduce reliance on China by moving some businesses to Southeast Asia over the next two years, up from 15% in a 2011 survey. Malaysia and the Philip-pines were the top choices for expansion, with both getting cited by 27% of respondents with plans to reduce their reliance on China. In a survey last year, 21% of those expect-ing to move some operations favored Malaysia, and 11% cited the Philippines. In the new survey, the next most favored destinations were Vietnam and Th ailand, with 24% each. Th e propor-tion citing Vietnam was down from 34% in the 2011 survey, when it was the top choice. Indonesia was cited by 23%, compared with 11%

last year. AmCham did not give reasons why US fi rms had become more interested in diversifying away from China, although rising costs likely were a factor. Chinese labor costs have been climbing at double-digit rates for several years, and the average wage for migrant workers rose 15% in the fi rst six months of 2012, offi cial fi gures showed. An Apple contract manu-facturer, Taiwan’s Foxconn Group, for example, may invest up to $10 billion in Indonesia to take advantage of manufacturing wage costs that are just 60% of China’s. According to AmCham Singapore, 92% of the execu-tives surveyed said they were positive about investment op-portunities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, a regional grouping that comprises Indonesia, Th ailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei. “ASEAN is not only a vital US trade and investment partner, it is a bright spot in the global economy,” said AmCham Vice-President Tami Overby. -- Reuters



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businessweek mindanao september 1,2012

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